My Christmas Flower has the comedy of a Friends episode and the warmth of a Hallmark Christmas movie but has a sinister dark twist of a Lifetime-type film.
Logline
With their friends' support, a loving couple navigates the winding road to adulting but hits a roadblock when a family member's nefarious scheme upsets their adoption plans.
My Christmas Flower revolves around Kate and Michael and their inner circle of two close couples. The story shows the support of close friends who shared the growing pains of young adulthood and the challenges of starting a family. Unlike most holiday movies, this screenplay reflects an eclectic mix of races, genders, and sexual diversity. It is a Christmas story that works any time of the year.
Synopsis
My Christmas Flower is the love story of Michael and Kate Costa and their roller coaster ride to have children and start their family. The story begins at the funeral of Michael's mother. In Michael's eulogy, we understand Michael's hatred for his estranged father, Rocky. After the funeral, we see the support group of close friends that Kate and Michael have. Imani and Dina, a lesbian couple, are Kate's college friends and colleagues at the law firm. Leo is Michael's best friend from college, and his wife Cassie is a friend of Kate's.
Kate and Michael own a home together and agree to get married when they decide to start a family. Kate finds out from her doctor that she cannot get pregnant and will never have children. Christmas Eve at Kate's parents' house, Leo, Cassie, Imani, and Dina, are decorating the tree. Michael surprises Kate and proposes to her. Kate agrees, and then they announce they are adopting a little girl from Thailand, as they both taught there four years ago.
As they plan the wedding, Kate and her Mom convince Michael to invite his father. Michael and Kate remember the last time they spoke with Rocky. Rocky tried to hide a tract of land from his wife's lawyers, Kate and Imani, during the divorce settlement process. Michael accosted Rocky and wrestled him to the ground. Michael's mom got the parcel of land.
The day after Thanksgiving, they find out that the adoption will not go through due to morality issues with both Michael and Kate. Michael's father stopped the adoption process by twisting the playful information he heard at Michael's wedding into an adoption roadblock.
Rocky unveils his evil plan as he bought a legal birth certificate for Malee, a 3-year-old girl from Thailand, stating Rocky is the birth father. Rocky has the little girl there and says he will sign guardianship to them if they sign over the land tract. If they refuse, he will ship her back to Bangkok's worst neighborhoods, which will lead her to a life of prostitution. Michael is upset, but Kate studies the paperwork and sees a loophole.
Kate, Imani, and Dina work non-stop and find a mistake that Rocky made. Malee's birth certificate has the name Michael Costa as the father. He used his legal name Michael but did not use Sr. Thus, the courts will honor Michael as the legal birth father using these documents as it coincides with the dates that Michael taught in Thailand.
Everyone is together for Christmas Eve at Kate's parents' house. Leo and Cassie have their baby boy, Imani and Dina have their baby girl, and Kate and Michael have little Malee. Kate tells Malee that her name means flower and that she will forever be their Christmas flower.
Characters
Kate Holloway Costa - A dynamic lawyer, wife, and friend, is faced with the news that she will not be medically able to have a child, she decides to adopt with her husband. Michael Costa - Kate’s husband whose estranged father causes a dramatic change in their adoption process. Malee - The little Thai girl that Michael and Kate adopt. Imani Jordan - Kate’s best friend and colleague, wed to Dina Clayton in a lesbian marriage. She is a fiery spirit who doesn’t take anything from anybody. Dina Clayton - Imani’s wife and friend and colleague of Kate. The mother of their baby, Katie, named after Kate. Leo Navarro - Michael’s best friend, IT guy, who is married to Cassie. Cassie Navarro - Leo’s wife and mother of baby Leo in which Michael is the godfather. Rocky - Michael’s estranged and evil father. He blocks their adoption to force a deal for a tract of land he wants to secure.